"Context clues" refer to the hints or clues provided by other words about an unknown or challenging word. In reading, using context clues is one of the most common strategies as in most cases the author of a text provides context clues of different types such as synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples, etc. related to unknown words and these allow the reader to understand the text without using an external source such as a dictionary. Additionally, the use of context clues is about looking at the words and phrases that surround the unknown word to try to understand the unfamiliar word. Therefore, if you look at other words in order to determine the meaning of a challenging word you are using context clues.
